Long-running former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is now calling on the people to reject corruption, in his latest salvo against his former party Umno.
He said Umno's struggle is now to defend its president Najib Razak from prosecution.
"That is Umno's struggle now. That's why I left early on.
"When we smell something rotten, we cannot stand it, so I left quickly," Sinar Harian today reported the veteran politician saying.
Mahathir was speaking at a Save Malaysia ceramah in Karangan, near Kulim, Kedah on Friday.
Sinar report him urging the people to reject corruption as it "destroys the country".
"I hope the people will not accept corruption because it is haram, and it can destroy the country.
"Therefore we urge the people to choose our new party," he was reported saying.
Mahathir vowed the new party he is planning to set up will fight corruption "and not emulate what Najib has done".
"We will choose people who are sincere, who hold on to Islamic teachings so that they do not receive money that is not halal.
"These are the ones who will take down Najib," he was reported saying.
He urged the people to support the new party and its allies to defeat BN in the next general election.
"We hope to field candidates in the 14th general election soon," he added.